Liquid dispensing device



Feb. 23, 1943. l.. G. BATES LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE FiledJune l1, 1941 INVENTOR. LAWR ENCE G. BATES MQW ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Lawrence G. Bates, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 11, 1941, Serial No. 397,568

Claims.

For dispensing liquids, as beverages, avoring extracts, etc., the known practice involves a device on the top of the container from which the liquid is to be dispensed, the structure being such that the device discharges liquid with the container in normal position. A different siZe of dispenser has been required for different sizes of containers, and even where the size of the dispenser has been properly adapted to the size of the container, it has not always been possible to attain a uniformly even charge of liquid as drawn from the container. In accordance with the present invention however, it now becomes possible to provide a dispenser which is equally applicable to large and small containers, and the discharge may be controlled with precision, as desired.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth. in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention, the working parts being shown in a position just after the plunger is started on its downward excursion; Fig. 2 shows a similar view with the working parts in a position just after the plunger has started on its upward excursion; and Figs. 3 and 4 are analogous views respectively of a modication.

The device is arranged to be secured to the opening of a container of the liquid which is to be dispensed, and the same device may be applied to a wide range of containers, by having the cork 2, Fig. l, which ts over the central tubular extensions of the device, and by an appropriate size of outside diameter of the cork 2, applied with respect to the size of the opening of the container to be iitted, the device may be interchanged from one container to another as desired; or where the container is of screwthreaded form at the opening, a screw-threaded sleeve 2a is analogously fitted to the dispensing device, the attachment being attached thereto by its upper end for interchangeablity, or it may be more simply cemented until removed,

.the sleeve 2a in every case being of a size in View of the chosen container with which it is to be assembled.l O n the stopper as indicated,

is a cylinder 3, within which a piston 4 is reciprocable, as carried by a manually-operated plunger 5 and being normally in raised position by a spring 6. The lower end of the plunger extends on through the bottom of the cylinder, through a suitable packing 1, and is reciprocable in a duct 8 which is open into the top of the container. Through the plunger an air passway extends from a port 9 at the upper end, and a port Ill just below the piston communicates with the interiorof the cylinder, while a port II at the lower end of the plunger communicates with the space above the liquid in the top of the container. The port 9 is preferably surrounded by a raised margin I2, such that when the nger or thumb of an operator is placed thereagainst to push the plunger down, a tightl seal or valve action is assured, and preferably also the top of the plunger surrounding the raised margin I2 is recessed or depressed as at I thus further facilitating t and accurate closure of the port as the plunger is pushed down by the operators thumb or finger; and the release thereof as necessitated to permit the spring 6 to again raise the plunger inherently provides the opening of the port on upward stroke. The port I!) below the piston 4 is always open to the cylinder. The port II at, the lower end of the plunger however is alternately opened and closed. A feature of the present invention, obviating complication of structure, is the provision of operating means for this port valve controlled by the same plunger. Thus, the port II may be directed laterally just above an expanded head I6 forming the lower end of the plunger, and a valve sleeve Il may be carried on the plunger to uncover and cover the port in appropriate timing. With an upper shoulder I8 on the plunger spaced from the head I 6 in dimension suiciently greater than the thickness of the valve I'I (which may be in one or more parts as desired) there is sufficient lost-motion to allow the valve when it is in its upper position against the upper shoulder I8 to entirely uncover the port II as shown in Fig. l. the valve is in its lower position against the head I6 the port II is closed, Fig. 2. Thus, by the frictional drag of the valve sleeve against the walls of the duct 8, when the plunger is pushed downwardly the valve I'I is not moved until the shoulder I8 of the plunger catches up with it, and the lost motion allows the port II to travel out below the valve and open, and through the remainder of the down stroke the port Il remains open. When the reverse move- When l ment starts however, the irictional drag of the valve against the walls of conduit 8 allows the plunger to first move through the range of lostmotion permitted until the head l of the plunger engages the valve and carries it along, the port ll thereby being closed for the upward stroke.

Extending through the stopper from the liquid is a liquid conduit 20, and for adapting to containers of different depth, it is"covenient toV have a telescoping or interchangeable -tube section" v2l to extend to the lowermost portion of the liquid to be withdrawn. The liquid duct 29 communicates with a discharge nozzle 22 at the outside.

In using the device, with a cork 2 of appropriate size in View of the containerVthe device is secured to the opening of the container, andthe operator by pushing the plunger down, the Sfinger or thumb used therefor being necessarily placed over the port 9, escape of the air within with the beginning of the down stroke of the v plunger. Liquid is displaced from the container f and flows out through the duct '29 and discharge I4sired, by adjusting the length of stroke.

-may be accomplished with precision by anadnozzle 22 correspondingly. The amount of liquid discharged per stroke may be regulated as de- This --justable stop 23, screw-threaded on the plunger 5. .The inactive space above the piston 4 is in communication with the atmosphere by ventsv 24.

l"Particularly conveniently, the plunger 5 maybe made in sections, as 5, 5 which are assembled together by a screw-threaded joint, and a'slot 25 in the head of the section 5a permits use 'of a screwdriver for the assembling and disassembling.

vIn some instances, instead of regulating the z amount of liquid discharged by adjustment of the stroke, it is desirable to exercise control by a `manually-operated Valve 2l leading to the dis- `charge nozzle 22a, Figs. 3 and 4. With this, a`

`somewhat greater latitude of discharge may be permitted, where desired. Normally, the Avalve `21.` is held in closed position by. a spring5'28.

Downward pressure on thevalve serves toopen Vthe same for discharge as'desired.

I Other modes of applying the principle of 'the invention may be employed, 'change being made "as'regards the details described, provided the `4features stated in `any of the 'following claims,

or the equivalent of such, be employed.

Ift'herefore particularly point out and distinct- -fly'c'laim as my invention:

l. A liquid dispenser, comprising a-stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container: 60

A'through the stopper to a discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading to the upper part of the container through the stopper, a manually-operated vtrolled port at the outside end of the plunger and L70 having an opening into the Cylinder and a manplunger extending through said cylinder into the duct, said plunger being in assemblable sections with a screw-threaded joint and having a -screwdriver slot in theend of the lower section, an air passway through said plunger having an opening into the cylinder and va manually-cona port at the lower end of thelplunger, said-manually-controlled port having a raised margin and -vbeing surrounded by a depression, a valve sleeve at the lower end of the plunger having limited -Vaxial movement -to uncover-the lower portas-the 375 .cover the lowerV port as Ythe pjungerstartsdown plunger starts down and to cover the port as the plunger starts up, a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder, and a screw-threadedly adjustable stop on said plunger for controlling the amount of liquid discharged.

2. A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container through the stopper to a discharge nozzle out- 1() -side,fa ductleading tothe upperpart of the container through the stopper, a'manu'ally-operated plunger extending through said cylinder into the duct, an air passway through said plunger having an opening into the cylinder and a rnan-V .j7,.ually--controlled port at the outside end of the plunger and a port at the lower end of the plunger, said manually-controlled port having a raised margin and beingsurrounded by a depression, a valve sleeve at the lower end of the plunger hav- Q0 ing limited axial movement to uncover the lower l:port asthe plungerstartsfdown and to coverthe .f'portas the, plunger startslup, a pistonV operated by saidplunger in the cylinder, .andascrewt-hreadedly adjustable stop onvsaid plungernfor Q5 controlling the amount of liquid-discharged.

,3;y A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for i' a container, a cylinder thereon,.a liquidduct leading from the lower portion :ofA the container i through the stopper to a discharge. nozzle out- SO side. a ductleading to the upper part of the container `through the stopper, a manually-operated plunger extending through said cylinder into'the I duct, an'air passway through said plunger having `'an'.openinginto the cylinderand a manually- '35 controlled port at the outside end of the plunger and a port at the. lower end of the plunger, a valve sleeve at the lower end of the plunger -havving limited axial movement to uncover the'lower fportas the. plunger starts down and to cover the go'p'ort asthe plunger starts up, a pistonoperat'ed .bysaidv plunger in theY cylinder, and a screw- :threadedly adjustable stop on ysaid plunger-for controlling the amount of liquid discharged.

Ll. vifi-liquid dispenser, comprising astopper for 45acon-tainer, a cylinder thereon, a liquid='duct leadingfrom the lower portion-of the vcontainer through the stoppertov a discharge Avnozzle-outside, a duct leading to the'upper part yof the -cOnta-iner through the stopper,- a manually-oper- So''atedbplunger extending "through said cylinder into- --the duet,l an air passway through Isaid @plunger having an opening into the cylinder and a` manually-controlledl port at the outside vend Vof. the plunger and a port at the lower'fendof `the plunger, a valve sleeve-at the lower `end of the plunger having limited axial movement "to uncover'vthe lower port as the plunger starts dowrrandV to coverthe port as theplunger starts -up, piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder, and a manually-controlled valve inthe discharge nozzle outside said-cylinder.

5. AA liquid dispenser., comprising a stopper for -a container, aA cylinder thereon, aVliquid duct mleadingirom the lower portion of the'container .65 through the stopper to al discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading'itoy theupper part of the container `through the stopper, ai manuallyvoperated 'plunger extending through said cylinder intothe duet, an air passway through said plunger -ua'lly-controlled port at the outsideend of the Vplunger and a port at the lower end of 'the plunger, a valve sleeve at the lower 'end-of? the plunger. having limited axial movement to unand to cover the port as the plunger starts up, a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder, and means for controlling the amount of liquid discharged.

6. A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container through the stopper to a discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading to the upper part of the container through vthe stopper, a manually-operated plunger extending through said cylinder into the duct, said plunger being in sections screw-threadedly joined, an air passWay through said plunger having an opening into the cylinder and a manually-controlled port at the outside end of the plunger surrounded by a raised margin and a depression, a valve-controlled port at the lower end of said plunger, including a lost-motion Valve, a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder, and means for controlling the amount of liquid discharged.

'7. A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container through the stopper to a discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading to the upper part of the container through the stopper, a manually-operated plunger extending through said Cylinder into the duct, said plunger being in sections screw-threadedly joined, an air passway through said plunger having an opening into .the cylinder and a manually-controlled port at the outside end of the plunger, a valve-controlled port at the lower end of said plunger, including a lostmotion valve, a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder, and means for controlling the amount of liquid discharged.

8. A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container through the stopper to a discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading to the upper part of the container through the stopper, a manually-operated plunger extending .through said cylinder into the duct, an air passway through said plunger having an opening into the cylinder and a manually-controlled port at the outside end of the plunger, a valve-controlled port at the lower end of said plunger, including a lost-motion valve, a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder, and means for controlling the amount of liquid discharged.

9. A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container through the stopper to a discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading to the upper part of the container through the stopper, a manually-operated plunger extending through said cylinder into the duct, an air passway through said plunger having an opening into the cylinder and a manually-controlled port at the outside end of the plunger and a port at the lower end, a lostmotion valve controlling said last-named port, and a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder.

10. A liquid dispenser, comprising a stopper for a container, a cylinder thereon, a liquid duct leading from the lower portion of the container through the stopper to a discharge nozzle outside, a duct leading to the upper part of the container through the stopper, a manually-operated plunger extending through said cylinder into the duct, an air passway through said plunger having an opening into the cylinder and at its upper and lower ends, a valve controlling the port at the lower end, and a piston operated by said plunger in the cylinder.

LAWRENCE G. BATES. 

